Tag: makeup brushes

I posted a few days ago about the freebies Ulta was giving away with purchase, so in true me fashion, I went up there and bought some makeup wipes and a couple of lip glosses, so I could get my free bag. It is so cute, and I got some really great stuff in it.

Look how cute! Even a couple of the palettes match! I wasn’t expecting to like the pink this much, because I’m not really a pink girl, but I really like it.

Liquid Illuminator in Northern Lights (I’ve already tried it and I’m in love)

Plush Drama Volumizing Mascara

Clear Brow Shaping Gel

Juice Infused Lip Oil in Coconut (it smells amazing)

Dual-pencil sharpener

Lip Liner Pencil in Bittersweet

Mattifying Face Primer (always up for a good primer sample)

Eyeliner Pencil in Blackout

$5 off $15 coupon

One thing I love about Ulta’s gift bags is that they always give me things that are about to be in season. So far, I can’t think of anything I’ve gotten in one of their bags that I’ve been disappointed with. I haven’t been able to try everything out yet, but so far, my favorite thing is the liquid illuminator. It gives me a good highlight without being too bright, and it goes on really easily. Did anyone else go grab a freebie bag from Ulta? What was your favorite part of it?

If you’re like me, you’d rather not spend a ton of money on your makeup. However, it can be difficult to find good quality makeup at those lower price points. Between my own experiences and recommendations I’ve gotten from friends, I think I’ve found some good options for drugstore makeup that actually works. Try some of these out and let me know what your think.

For lip colors and eyeshadows, I like to go with NYX. Their colors are strongly pigmented and tend to last. I don’t love their matte liquid lipsticks, except for their Lingerie Liquids, because I don’t feel like the colors are what they claim to be, and they dry my lips out. However, their solid lip colors are pretty good. They go on smoothly and tend to last as long as I need them to. They’re not very expensive, usually around $7 or so, which is pretty standard for drugstore brands. You can find their products at places like Ulta, CVS, and Target has recently started carrying NYX products.

I really like E.L.F. for brushes and eyeshadows. Their brushes are cheap, but they seem to be of good quality. I also have one of their baked eyeshadow palettes. I love the colors; they’re mostly metallics and pale hues. My only real issue with it is that you really have to scrape the top off before you can use any of it, which feels wasteful to me. This also makes it kind of tough to use a brush for application, so I use my ring finger to apply it. E.L.F. can be found many places including Walmart, Target, Old Navy, and others.

I also like the Covergirl brand. I use their Tru Match foundation, especially in the summer because it’s a sheer coverage, so it’s lighter than my normal foundation. It’s usually around $10 per bottle, and when you use a primer or BB cream underneath, it gives better coverage and lasts longer. It does typically last well, though, so it’s a good choice if you’re looking for a lighter foundation, or just starting out with makeup. I get mine at Kroger, but I’ve seen it at most grocery stores that carry cosmetics, so it can probably be found at places like CVS and Walgreens, as well.

While I see the benefits of prestige brands for some things, I think drugstore makeup is a perfectly good choice, especially for lipsticks or eyeshadow, because you’ll want multiple shades. Let me know what drugstore makeup items or brands you love! Let’s save each other some money this holiday season.